The 3 Days Masai Mara Safari from Nairobi is a private 2-night safari designed for travellers who want more time in the Masai Mara without committing to a longer Kenya safari.
The safari starts and ends in Nairobi and uses a private 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, giving you a comfortable and flexible way to explore the reserve. Unlike group-joining safaris, the vehicle is exclusively for your booking, so the itinerary can be adjusted around your interests and preferred pace.
You will spend two nights in or around the Masai Mara, with game drives planned across your stay. Depending on your arrival and departure times, the safari can include an afternoon game drive on Day 1, an extended full-day game drive on Day 2, and a final morning or afternoon game drive on Day 3.
The Masai Mara is known for its high concentration of wildlife, including lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and many bird species. The reserve is also one of Kenya's key destinations for the Great Wildebeest Migration, particularly between July and October.
Safari Highlights
- 3 days / 2 nights in the Masai Mara
- Private safari by 4x4 Land Cruiser
- Nairobi hotel, residence or airport pickup and drop-off
- Experienced English-speaking safari driver-guide
- Morning and afternoon game drives
- Full-day game drive option in the Masai Mara
- Opportunity to see the Big Five
- Two nights in a selected safari camp or lodge
- Full-board safari accommodation
- Flexible private itinerary
- Suitable for couples, families and small private groups
- Option to upgrade accommodation
A 3-day safari is particularly useful for travellers who want more wildlife time than a rushed 2-day Masai Mara safari but have limited time in Kenya. Three days as a 2-night Mara experience typically offers three to five game-drive opportunities depending on the schedule.
Route
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Nairobi – Masai Mara National Reserve
Your safari begins with pickup from your Nairobi hotel, residence or airport at an agreed time.
Drive west through the Great Rift Valley before continuing towards the Masai Mara. The journey takes approximately 5–6 hours, depending on traffic, road conditions and your exact starting point. You can stop along the way for refreshments and a short break.
After arriving in the Masai Mara, check into your camp or lodge and have lunch. If time allows, head out for your first game drive during the afternoon — an early opportunity to start looking for lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and other wildlife. Return to your accommodation before sunset.
Full-Day Masai Mara Game Drive
After breakfast, leave with your safari guide for a full-day game drive in the Masai Mara National Reserve — the main wildlife day of the safari.
Rather than returning to the lodge for several hours, you spend most of the day exploring different areas of the reserve. Your guide adjusts the route according to wildlife activity, road conditions and your interests.
The day may include sightings of:
- Lions and other big cats
- Elephants and buffaloes
- Giraffes and zebras
- Wildebeest and topi
- Hippos and crocodiles around river areas
- Antelopes and gazelles
- Large numbers of resident and migratory birds
During the Great Migration season, the game drive can also focus on areas where wildebeest and other migratory animals are concentrated. A picnic lunch can be arranged for the full-day game drive, allowing you to spend more time in the reserve. Return to your lodge or camp in the late afternoon or early evening.
.jpg)
Masai Mara – Nairobi
Wake up early for breakfast before your final game drive. An early morning game drive is recommended because wildlife is often active during the cooler hours of the day — another opportunity to search for big cats and other species before leaving the reserve.
Return to your accommodation for breakfast, check out and begin the drive back to Nairobi. Depending on your onward travel plans, we can drop you at your Nairobi hotel, residence or airport.
For international flights, we recommend allowing sufficient time between the safari's expected arrival in Nairobi and your flight departure.
Get Free Quote ›
Tour Cost & Pricing
Our 3 Days Masai Mara Safari prices are based on a private 4x4 Land Cruiser, accommodation, meals, safari transport and guided game drives. The final price depends on the travel season, accommodation category, park fees applicable on your travel dates and the number of people sharing the vehicle.
Indicative Private Safari Rates Per Person
| Season | 2 People | 4 People | 6 People |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Season | From $950 | From $750 | From $650 |
| High Season | From $1,250 | From $1,000 | From $875 |
| Peak Season | From $1,450 | From $1,200 | From $1,050 |
Season Guide
- Low SeasonApril–May and selected periods with lower lodge demand.
- High SeasonJanuary–March, June and October–December, depending on accommodation and travel dates.
- Peak SeasonJuly–September during the main Great Migration period, plus selected festive dates around Christmas and New Year.
The exact season classification can vary between camps and lodges, so your quotation will be based on the actual dates of travel.
Park Fees
| Season | Per Adult, Per Day (Non-Resident) |
|---|---|
| Low Season | $100 |
| High Season | $200 |
Park fees are a significant component of the cost and can change, so please confirm the applicable rate for your dates.
What Affects the Safari Price?
- Number of travellers
- Accommodation category
- Travel dates
- Masai Mara conservation/park fees
- Private Land Cruiser use
- Number of game drives
- Meal plan
- Lodge or camp location
- Optional activities
- Special festive-season supplements
What's Included & Excluded
Included
- Private safari in a 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Nairobi hotel/residence/airport pickup and drop-off
- Two nights' accommodation in the Masai Mara
- Full-board accommodation
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Scheduled game drives
- Full-day Masai Mara game drive
- Drinking water during game drives
- Safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Fuel and vehicle running costs
- Driver-guide services
- Applicable government taxes
Excluded
- International flights
- Kenya visa
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic and soft drinks outside the included meal plan
- Tips and gratuities
- Maasai village visit
- Hot-air balloon safari
- Laundry services
- Items of a personal nature
- Optional activities
- Any accommodation or services not specified in the itinerary
Getting There
The most common way to reach the Masai Mara from Nairobi is by road. For this safari, Beyond The Plains Safaris provides private 4x4 Land Cruiser transport from Nairobi to the Masai Mara and back.
By Road
The Nairobi–Masai Mara journey generally takes around 5–6 hours, although actual travel time depends on traffic, road conditions, stops and the location of your camp or lodge. The route passes through the Great Rift Valley and continues towards Narok before entering the Mara region.
A private Land Cruiser makes the road journey more flexible because you can stop for breaks and adjust the departure time around your itinerary.
Route Map
By Air
Travellers who want to reduce road travel can also choose to fly from Nairobi to a Masai Mara airstrip — see our Fly-In Kenya Safaris page for details. This is particularly useful for travellers adding the Mara to a luxury Kenya safari or those with limited time. Fly-in safaris normally cost more because flights, air transfers and lodge arrangements are added to the package.
Get Free Quote ›
